Double-headed serpent

ORIGINAL QUESTION received from - and thanks to - Gerry B.: I have an important question about the Aztec two headed serpent that is well known and seen. Who does it represent and what is its Aztec name? (Answered by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore)

A priest makes an offering to a pair of serpents entwined together (common in some species when mating): Codex Féjérváry-Mayer, folio 27. (Click on image to enlarge)

This is one of the most iconic and famous Mexica/Aztec objects in the world, and a highlight of the British Museum’s collections. It measures 43.3 cms in width, and is carved from a single piece of cedarwood, decorated with turquoise and shell mosaics.

Double-headed serpents feature strongly in the myths and religion of ancient Mexico, and Mesoamerica in general: one of the region’s most important deities was of course Quetzalcóatl, the Feathered Serpent (read more on this in our feature on D H Lawrence and the Plumed Serpent, below). Snakes have always been associated with fertility and re-birth, because of their ability to shed and grow new skins. No-one (even at the BM!) is quite sure how or where this mosaic piece was worn: it might have been a ‘pectoral’, hanging over the chest from a cord tied round the neck, or it may have been an important emblem - much like a Roman army standard - displayed on a staff.

In the language of the Aztecs, Náhuatl, cóatl can mean both snake and ‘twin’. By extension, it can mean, in Gordon Brotherston’s words, ‘cooperation, community, social counterpart (a notion alive today in the Mexican term cuate, friend or mate)’. Turquoise or fire serpents - xiuhcóatl in Náhuatl - could represent lightning, linking the two worlds of sky and earth: an impressive stone xiuhcóatl welcomes visitors to the Mexico Gallery of the British Museum, and two such creatures adorn the Sunstone, carrying the Sun across the sky on its daytime journey. In this vein, according to Manuel Aguilar-Moreno, double-headed intertwined serpents were icons in Mesoamerican art that represented the sky. At the same time, the jaws of the snakes are open, ‘symbolizing the caves of Mictlan, gateways to the underworld’.

However, double-headed serpents - maquizcóatl - tended to have negative associations, as bearers of bad omens. At an every-day level, twin snakes could represent ‘gossip’ (something at which Mexicans have sadly often excelled...[Apologies for this clearly personal and very biased remark - see below!]) Maquizcóatl was a name associated with the Mexica tribal god Huitzilopochtli, and it’s possible that this particular maquizcóatl could have been an insignia carried or worn by a Huitzilopochtli impersonator.

Overall, though, perhaps we should agree with Manuel Aguilar-Moreno’s suggestion of viewing the pectoral as ‘a work dedicated to life, which depends on death and the underworld in order to renew itself.’

More info available in Moctezuma Aztec Ruler Exhibition Catalogue, British Museum Press, 2009.Quote from Gordon Brotherston: Feather Crown, BM Publications 2005.Quote from Manuel Aguilar-Moreno: Handbook to Life in the Aztec World, Facts on File, 2006

8 At 10.26am on Monday October 29 2018, LR wrote:

The gossip comment comes across as petty and unprofessional. Particularly when this is a site that’s clearly designed to be a reference for students, who certainly observe and absorb enough racialized bias from the world without your help. To have an educational site include this statement is wildly disappointing.

Referencing your Mexican spouse is not an appropriate response. Proximity to people of color is not an inoculation against racialized bias. I’m disappointed that it hasn’t been removed and further disappointed that you feel no need or urgency to remove it.

My own subjective experience is that I have been far more hurt by the words and actions of white people than Mexican people, but I would never dream of including that in an academic reference. I’m also disappointed that you use your personal hurt and feelings to justify including racialized bias in this article.

The thing I do agree with is that people deserve to know about your bias and your disregard for the negative impact that it can have. I request that you remove the statement from the article, but leave these comments and leave a note at the bottom of the article including the original statement you made, an apology for ever including it, and an acknowledgment that it is an unprofessional and biased subjective judgment of a race of people as a whole. That the statement is a reflection of you as a person and how you respond to your own personal hurt and no reflection on Mexican people.

7 At 2.39am on Wednesday June 6 2018, Mia Brown wrote:

After 8 years has the hurt still not dissipated? I paused in shock before I saw the previous comments. I appreciate the research but not the unnecessary biased commentary.

Mexicolore replies: Yes, the hurt has dissipated and I really ought to bow to public opinion and take this comment down. Yet I do find it slightly odd that it should cause ‘shock’, ‘sour’ and ‘sad’ feelings. Yes, it’s a sweeping generalisation but if I admit my bias openly, is it really so objectionable? I’m married to a Mexican, I’ve been a volunteer in Mexico, I’m fascinated by Mexican history, I love the country and its people and I strive to make this website as accessible, independent, and inclusive as possible. Should I not comment on Mexican politics because the website is supposed to be ‘neutral’? Forget that, if I see injustice going on in Mexico I’ll try and flag it up. Many of the links on our ‘Other Mexico Links’ page are about human rights and solidarity campaigns. Quite right too! It would be another matter altogether if I peppered the site with biased comments, but I don’t, and I try to give different opinions where appropriate. Apologies again if this little ‘dig’ upsets anyone; it will probably have to go if more and more people are outraged by it. But surely there must be more important things to be getting on with than criticising this personal remark?

6 At 8.23am on Friday June 10 2016, Gael wrote:

Due to the lack of an archaeological context, we might never know for sure what this object’s use was. However, I think we can get a heads up from an image found in the Vatican Codex where there’s a Deity (red Tlaloc?) wearing an identical pectoral piece.http://www.famsi.org/research/graz/vaticanus3773/img_page45.html

5 At 2.33pm on Wednesday March 23 2016, Jim wrote:

Facts soured by opinion. Will get info elsewhere

Mexicolore replies: Good luck mate!!!!!!

4 At 6.35pm on Sunday February 28 2016, Holly wrote:

Where was it found? And when was is found?

Mexicolore replies: its provenance is unknown! We know it was purchased by the British Museum from a mysterious Italian collector in 1894, but basically that’s it...

3 At 10.59am on Monday June 8 2015, hello wrote:

what is the cultural diffusion of this serpent ?

Mexicolore replies: Whilst the double-headed serpent (above) is iconically Aztec, stories of hero twins (one of its associations) are found throughout the Americas, from the Mississippi to the Caribbean and beyond, and are part of what Robert and Peter Markman call ‘a worldwide pattern of the hero journey. As with many Native American versions of the hero journey, this myth presents us with twins... rather than a single hero.’ (The Flayed God p. 280).

2 At 12.04pm on Tuesday July 26 2011, Scott wrote:

There are certain traits that certain subsets of people share in common. All subsets and people are not all the same. You can draw generalizations based on empirical logic without being racist. One does have to be careful not to be hasty in one’s generalizations however. We need to stop being afraid of seeing differences.If you have not seen that many Mexicans (especially women), tend to be “chismosos” you are a PC automaton. That is not to say that other subsets are innocent of doing the same thing.

Mexicolore replies: Thanks, Scott, for this gentle, wise admonition. You’re right too, of course, about the dangers of making sweeping generalisations. I know I should remove the ‘offending’ comment - just not quite ready emotionally yet...

1 At 11.25am on Thursday November 25 2010, Richard Smith wrote:

For a website that offers such rich historical and academic material, I find it sad at your inclusion of somewhat personal bias to say Mexicans excel at gossip, particularly when the word gossip is of English origin.

Mexicolore replies: You’re right of course! Having myself been a (totally innocent) victim of this - to my mind - persistently negative of human traits, I let my feelings get the better of me when writing this piece, and for this I apologise. Your gentle criticism is well received! Perhaps when the hurt has dissipated, I will remove the comment...